A new serum alpha-amylase assay of high sensitivity

The use of chemically modified starch substrates for measurement of serum alpha-amylase activity is described. Action of alpha-amylase on such substrates, in the presence of excess fungal glucoamylase, results in the production of glucose in direct proportion to the amount of alpha-amylase present. The glucose produced is measured by a specific enzymic assay. Results obtained by using this new assay correlate well with activities determined by a conventional saccharogenic assay. The new method is of much higher sensitivity, and is less susceptible to interference, than are most other alpha-amylase assay methods.